Rotary piston system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a rotary piston system mounted within an engine or a pump and characterized in that a piston moves inside a housing, thus reducing or enlarging closed spaces. The piston is an oloid element rotating about its axis. The internal space consists of two identical shells contiguously assembled along the equatorial planes thereof. The space defined by the shells inside the housing has an enveloping surface resulting from the biaxial rotation of the oloid element, the maximum diameter of which corresponds to its longitudinal profile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a rotary piston system, engine, or pump havinga piston which moves inside a housing and in doing so enlarges andreduces an enclosed space. (Meyers Grosses Taschenlexikon, 5th Edition,1995, Volume 19, page 7). A rolling piston engine with a discus-shapedplunger disk is disclosed in DE 588 285 C.

In this invention the term “rotation” is understood to mean thatreciprocating oscillating movements are possible, i.e., that no completerotations are performed in succession, but, for example, oscillatingmovements as well.

The rotary piston system described in what follows differs fromstate-of-the-art designs in its use of fewer parts (piston and rotarycylinder) and in its rotation about its center of mass (with noeccentricity). This results in high efficiency and permits simple andaccordingly cost-effective designs. As is the case with other pistonengines, it does so without valves.

Generally speaking, piston engines are based on the principle that apiston that is movable relative to a jacket increases or reduces anenclosed volume. The piston is assigned the function of restricting thisvolume as closely as possible. It can be shown that simple rotation of apiston about an axis results in rotation-symmetrical configurations andcauses no changes in volume in any chambers present. An innovative stepis represented by the Wankel engine, in which gearing causes oscillationof the piston in a special enveloping form to bring about change involume in the chambers. The piston of the Wankel engine does not,however, rotate about the center of mass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible for a changein volume to occur during simultaneous rotation about the center of massof the piston. Specifically, through simultaneous rotation of the pistonof the invention about two axes, non-symmetrical rotationalconfigurations are achieved, which are a prerequisite for the formationof varying piston chamber volumes. It is also possible for a change involume to occur during simultaneous rotation of the piston about twoaxes through appropriate selection of the shape of the rotary piston andof the enveloping shape of the housing (“cylinder”), and by finding asuitable function which links the rotation of the two axes.

The initial shape of a preferred embodiment of the rotary piston claimedfor the invention is the oloid discovered by Paul Schatz (CH 500 000C5). The oloid is a body which is formed by developable ruled surfaces.Its formation may be compared to intersection of two beer mug coastersat the midpoint of each and intersecting at 90° to one another so thatthe coasters form a cross. The circumference of one coaster passesthrough the center of the other coaster. If this configuration is placedon a level surface, such as a table, each of the two coasters touchesthe surface at one point. This applies to any possible position of thetwo coasters. The connecting line between the bearing points is theenvelope line of the oloid (see FIG. 1).

In addition to its aesthetic aspect, the oloid has certain symmetricalproperties which are of interest in the context of the invention. If theoloid is rotated 90° about its horizontal axis, it assumes a positionwhich corresponds to being rotated 180° about the vertical axis.

If the oloid is rotated simultaneously about the horizontal axis (90°)and the vertical axis (180°), it returns to its initial position (SeeFIGS. 1, 2, 10, 14). If the shape of the envelope defined by thismovement is observed, a configuration which is not rotationallysymmetrical is seen to emerge, one which is divided into approximatelytwo chambers by the oloid. These two chambers migrate during rotationwith the oloid about the vertical axis and are of the same size only inthe “normal position”. One chamber is compressed as the other expands.The maximum is situated at 90° about the vertical axis and 45° about thehorizontal axis. Two cycles of compression and expansion take placeduring each complete rotation about the vertical axis of the oloid.

The shape enveloping the oloid must be selected so that the two rotatingchambers are separated by the piston. In addition, the rotation of theoloid about the horizontal axis is to be imposed on the oloid by theenvelope. For this purpose, one should again visualize the shape of theenvelope which arises when the oloid is rotated 180° about the verticalaxis and at the same time 90° about the horizontal axis. A change in thedirection of rotation about the horizontal axis results in an envelopeof a different shape. If the situation is analyzed more thoroughly, itis found that, if the direction of rotation about the horizontal axis iscontinued, the “first” 180-degree rotation about the vertical axisdescribes an envelope shape different from that described by the“second” rotation. Thus, imposition of movement of the oloid about thehorizontal axis is not possible in this way. That is, there is nocomplete rotation about the horizontal axis; the oloid rather oscillatesbetween 0° and 90° about the horizontal axis (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

If the requirement is made that the envelope is always to be dividedinto two chambers by the oloid, the section through the oloid and theenvelope must be identical at least in the normal position. If the oloidis rotated in its envelope, this section should not change. Such is notthe case, however. Note the shaded areas of FIG. 3. The shape of theenvelope depends on the shape of the oloid and a function β (FIG. 4). Inthe process of the invention, parts of the envelope are generated by thecircular edges of the oloid and parts by the jacket lines. Problem zonesarise in this case around the vertical axis and the pointed end of thesection (shaded areas FIG. 3). The problem zones in the area of thevertical axis can be reduced or eliminated by extending the generatingcircles of the oloid (aperture angle 45°) and, in addition, by creatinga sphere around the center which encloses the problem areas. (FIG. 3).

The sphere and its shell, as part of the envelope, ensure separation ofthe two chambers in the area around the vertical axis. The area at thepointed end of the section still remains. If separation of the chambersin the vicinity around the base position is to take place here, theenvelope generated by the circular edges must be identical in a smallarea to the envelope parts generated by the jacket lines. It can bedemonstrated for the other part of the jacket that hermetic separationexists between the chambers.

Unlike the situation in conventional engines, mechanical coupling to therotary movement of the rotary piston cannot be accomplished by simplemeans. When the engine as described is used as a suction pump, forexample, the option is available of designing the rotary piston as thearmature (60) of an electric motor, as shown in FIG. 9, and of providingthe envelope with a suitable winding (12). An expansion chamber 50 and acompression chamber 55 are defined by the piston armature 60, as shownin FIG. 5. An intake 57 and an outlet 55 are located opposite oneanother perpendicular to the XZ plane, a plane of symmetry through theenvelope. There would then be a pump with only one moving part. Asidefrom frictional losses, no losses arise, ones due to mass deflection,for example, since the energy of oscillation for oscillation about thehorizontal axis is taken from the movement about the vertical axis andalso delivered back to it. The piston thus executes a pulsatingmovement.

The piston on which the preferred embodiment of the invention is basedis not identical to the form found by Paul Schatz. It does, however,possess the symmetrical properties of the form found by Paul Schatz.Modifications in the form of the piston are to be found in the spacingof the generating circles, the alternative penetration by a sphere inthe center, and a (slight) deformation of the oloid jacket. Othermodifications are conceivable, such as replacement of the circles of theoloid with ellipses. All these modifications bear no relation to thesymmetrical properties.

One particular problem with the rotary piston engine claimed for theinvention is found in transmission of mechanical forces to the piston oroloid. This problem is that there is no simple way of transmitting themechanical forces by extension of an axis.

The invention provides a number of possible solutions to this problem,including:

1. Mechanical coupling of forces. For this purpose, the piston isdesigned to be in three parts, specifically, in such a way that thepenetrating sphere is released from the piston. The piston then consistsof the sphere and two equal remaining parts. The sphere may then beprovided with an axis vertical relative to the force coupling and withan axis horizontal relative to the (movable) connection between the twopiston halves and the sphere.

2. Mechanical force coupling by way of the horizontal axis. For thispurpose, the piston is provided with a horizontal axis which projectsbeyond the envelope. The envelope must be designed to be of two parts(top and bottom halves). A circumferential seal must be formed betweenthe halves, a seal which connects the halves with a circumferential“zipper” and protects them from torsion. Rotation of the piston may betransmitted to a shaft by means of a claw.

3. Electromotive force coupling. For this purpose, the piston isdesigned as the armature of an electric motor. This can be accomplishedby embedding iron or magnetic material. There must be mounted around theenvelope a stator whose poles are mounted so that they are situated inthe plane of the sphere of the oloid in the relevant position. Arotating dualaxis magnetic field which carries the piston with it isgenerated by a commutator logic system.

4. Electromotive force coupling with an active armature. In thesituation in the paragraph above, the armature field was generatedexternally or by way of permanent magnets. Magnetic fields may also begenerated actively if the armature is designed with an electromagnet,and in particular generators may also be built in this way. For thispurpose the penetrating sphere must be designed in the form of two “slipring halves” in order to be able to transmit the necessary energizingcurrent to the armature. This stator is designed as explained in theparagraph above and shown in the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in what follows with reference to theexamples illustrated by the drawings.

FIGS. 1A-1C are top, side and front views, respectively, of an oloid;

FIG. 2 shows an oloid inside an envelope;

FIG. 3 corresponds to the oloid shape of FIG. 2, but superimposes asphere in the center of the oloid;

FIG. 4 is a graphic representation of the so-called β function plottedagainst angle α;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a vacuum pump system embodiment of theinvention, the envelope or housing being shown only in schematic form;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic partial view of the envelope of a rotary pistonengine for an oloid with a sphere;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the envelope of a rotary piston engine with anoloid having no sphere in the center;

FIG. 8 is a further top view of the envelope of the claimed invention,including a superimposed sphere, encompassed by the top half shell ofthe housing;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the vacuum pump and electric motorembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of an oloid rotary piston with a largesphere in its center in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the bottom enveloping surface of anoloid rotary piston engine having an oloid with a superimposed sphere inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows the oloid rotary piston of FIG. 10 introduced into thebottom enveloping surface illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top view of a rotary piston engine according to theinvention with a journal-mounted oloid in a ring, the top half of thehousing being removed;

FIG. 14 shows a further top view of a rotary piston engine as claimedfor the invention with a journal mounted oloid in a ring, the two shellsof the housing being removed and the piston being in mid rotation; and

FIGS. 15-17 are top, side and front views, respectively, of an oloidrotary piston in accordance with the present invention for a rotarypiston engine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Given below are certain details relating to the construction of apreferred embodiment of a rotary piston engine according to the presentinvention.

The basis of the is first the special geometry of the piston with regardto its symmetrical properties. As is shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, if a pistonin the shape of an oloid, having a first end 1 and a second end 2, ispositioned with its horizontal axis on the X axis and its vertical axison the Y axis, the XY plane (FIG. 1A) and the XZ plane (FIG. 1B) aresymmetrical planes, but the YZ plane is not (FIG. 1C). The YZ planebecomes a symmetrical plane if the piston half is rotated 90° about thehorizontal axis.

As is seen in FIG. 2, rotation of the oloid piston about the verticalaxis through an angle α and rotation about the horizontal axis throughan angle β results in the generation of a closed enveloping surfacewhich forms the “cylinder space” or the envelope 3 of the rotary pistonengine. Strictly speaking, complete rotation takes place only about thevertical axis, while the piston rotates only 9020 about the horizontalaxis. The envelope 3 is divided by the piston into two chambers 4, 5which rotate about the center with the piston and change their volume inthe process.

A compression and vacuum cycle takes place during every 180° rotationabout the vertical axis. The ends 1 and 2 change their orientation,swapping positions. The piston looks the same after rotating 180° aboutthe Z-axis and 90° about the X-axis as is shown in FIG. 2, but thepositions of the ends 1 and 2 are swapped.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the interior layout of the housing if there isto be an oloid functioning as piston inside-the housing. Production of ahousing such as this has already been described in conjunction with theshape and movement of the oloid.

The rotary piston with large penetrating sphere shown in FIG. 10illustrates clearly the ends 1 and 2 that engage in the dual-axismovement of the oloid.

FIG. 11 illustrates the top or bottom enveloping surface of the rotarypiston engine according to the present invention, showing an internalsphere at the bottom. The layout may be used either for delivery(pumping) or energy production by introducing intake and outlet openings(opposite each other). The inlet and outlet openings may be designed sothat slight overlapping of intake and outlet may be achieved. Thislayout requires no valves, because the motion of piston providesdistinct sealed chambers 4, 5.

In all instances of application of the invention as an engine there mustbe external coupling of the piston. This can be accomplished, forexample, by means of the systems shown in FIG. 13. The piston 12 ismounted inside two housing halves 10 so as to be rotatable about bothits horizontal and vertical axes.

A tread ring 11 rigidly connected to the horizontal axis of the rotarypiston 12 is mounted in the plane of separation between top and bottomof the housing. The rotary piston 12 pivots about the horizontal axis ina journal mount 15 and can follow the envelope approximately describedin FIG. 11 freely. The tread ring 11, shown also in FIG. 14, is providedwith a bevel gear 13 which transfers the movement of the piston from thehousing by way of a conical bevel wheel shaft 23 mounted in the housing.Reference numerals 16 and 17 designate an inlet and outlet for a mediumemployed for the purpose of actuating the piston 12 or the conical bevelwheel 13.

A further embodiment is disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 9, providing the optionof designing the rotary piston as the armature 60 of an electric motorand of providing the envelope with a suitable winding 70. An expansionchamber 50 and a compression chamber 55 are defined by the pistonarmature 60, as shown in FIG. 5. A commuter logic 75 is provided tocontrol the armature. An intake 57 and an outlet 55 are located oppositeone another perpendicular to the XZ plane, a plane of symmetry throughthe envelope.

Additional embodiments of the invention are represented by multistagerotary piston engines. FIGS. 15-17 are top, side, and front views,respectively, of an embodiment of the invention, showing an oloid pistonin a rotary piston engine. A mechanical coupling of forces is achievedby providing a piston designed to be in three parts, specifically, insuch a way that the sphere 105 is released from the piston 100 as aseparate component rotatably about the vertical axis as shown in FIG.16. The piston 100 then consists of the sphere and two equal remainingparts 101,102. The sphere may then be provided with a shaft 110extending vertically relative to the force coupling and with horizontalaxis relative to a movable connection between the two piston 101,102halves and the sphere 105.

Because of the special geometry, the compression ratio may be variedonly over a narrow range. In order to achieve higher compression ratiosor expansion by way of a larger area, it may be necessary to connectseveral pistons of different sizes in series. The design with a spherein the center and a common drive shaft is suitable for this purpose. Theintake and outlet openings may be mounted opposite each other in theenvelopes so that short paths between the stages and highly compactengines can be achieved.

In a multivane rotary piston engine using the instant invention, theembodiment with a sphere in the center also makes it possible to mounttwo lateral vanes on the sphere (blower layout), the vanes following theenvelope during rotation about the horizontal axes.

In the arrangement of the rotary piston engine of the present inventionas an internal combustion engine, a layout such as that employed in gasturbines is suitable because of the relatively low compression ratio andthe fact that the rotary piston engine simultaneously compresses anddraws in (two cycles per revolution about the vertical axis). An intakeand compression stage (or stages) fills a combustion chamber in whichcombustion takes place continuously. The expanding gas powers anexpansion stage (or stages). Here as well, the individual stages may bemounted in line on a shaft, with intake and discharge opposite eachother. The combustion chamber may be positioned between the compressorand expansion stages, as in conventional turbines.

Omission of a piston rod and a crankshaft makes the design simpler,significantly more compact, and lighter than conventional designs, and,since rotation takes place about the center of mass, quiet operation andgood efficiency are to be expected with the rotary piston systems of thepresent invention.

In a generalized rotary piston system as claimed for the invention thepiston consists essentially of two geometric plane elements or geometricbodies which are spaced at specific distances from each other and whichhave a common surface. Such elements may be ellipses or other shapes,but may just as well be cylinders or cuboids, which may be caused torotate about one, two, or three axes. The interior of the housing formedby shells has more or less a shape derived from a sphere, one whichresults from rotation of the piston thus formed (about one, two, or moreaxes), at least one fluid intake and outlet being mounted essentially inthe area of the equatorial plane, diametrically opposite each other,perpendicular to and distal from the plane of symmetry of the interior.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rotary piston system comprising: a housingcomprising two half shells sealed to one another along a sealing plane,the housing having an interior defined by the two half shells; agenerally oloid shaped rotatable piston arranged for rotation within theinterior of the housing; and a fluid intake extending into the housingand an outlet extending out of the housing, said intake and said outletbeing positioned generally in the area of said sealing plane, saidintake and said outlet being further positioned opposite each other andperpendicular to and distal from a plane of symmetry dividing theinterior of the housing into two portions which are symmetrical withrespect to one another.
 2. The rotary piston system of claim 1, whereinthe generally oloid shaped rotatable piston further comprises an oloidshaped volume formed by the intersection of a first circle oriented in afirst plane and a second circle oriented in a second plane perpendicularto said first plane, a point along the circumference of the secondcircle intersecting the center of said first circle; and an additionalgeometric volume generally enclosing the region of intersection betweensaid first and second circles.
 3. The rotary piston system of claim 2,wherein said additional geometric volume is spherical.
 4. The rotarypiston system of claim 1, wherein said interior defines a first chamberand a second chamber, said first and second chambers being separated andsealed apart from one another by said piston.
 5. The rotary pistonsystem of claim 1, wherein the volume of said interior is defined byrotation of said generally oloid shaped rotatable piston along at leasttwo axes of rotation.
 6. The rotary piston system of claim 1, whereinthe volume of said interior has a maximum diameter generally equal tothe longitudinal extent of the generally oloid shaped rotatable piston.7. The rotary piston system of claim 1, further comprisingelectromagnetic windings extending around the interior, wherein thegenerally oloid shaped rotatable piston is an armature, and the systemis an electric motor.
 8. The rotary piston system of claim 1, furthercomprising electromagnetic windings extending around the interior,wherein the generally oloid shaped rotatable piston is an armature, andthe system is a pump.
 9. The rotary piston system of claim 1, whereinthe generally oloid shaped piston further comprises an oloid shapedvolume generally formed by the intersection of a first circular shapeoriented in a first plane and a second circular shape oriented in asecond plane perpendicular to said first plane, a point along theperimeter of the second circular shape intersecting the center of saidfirst circular shape; an additional geometric volume enclosing theregion of intersection between said first and second circular shapes,and a journal element rotatably positioned in each of the half shellsalong a common axis, said journal elements connecting to said additionalgeometric volume in polar areas of the geometric volume.
 10. The rotarypiston system of claim 9, wherein the rotary piston system is an engine.11. The rotary piston system of claim 9, wherein the rotary pistonsystem is a internal combustion engine.
 12. The rotary piston system ofclaim 1, further comprising, a ring positioned in a recess between thetwo half shells, said ring being rotatable in said sealing plane, therotatable piston being positioned within said ring and connected to saidring for rotation of said ring.
 13. The rotary piston system of claim12, wherein the rotary piston system is an engine.
 14. The rotary pistonsystem of claim 12, wherein the rotary piston system is a pump.
 15. Therotary piston system of claim 12, wherein the rotary piston system is agenerator.